U2 Sets ‘Tonight Show’ Residency

First they force you to own their new album, now U2 has ignited the ultimate late-night battle of the bands. OK, not really, but NBC said today that the Irish quartet has booked a weeklong residency on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon running November 17-21. If those sweep-period dates might sound familiar it’s because it’ll be the same five nights that Metallica will be on CBS’ Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson. The two biggest-selling groups to emerge from the 1980s will be on an hour apart, so no need to set those VCRs — but wouldn’t a head-to-head showdown with Jimmy Kimmel have been fun? U2, which appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show debut in February, is supporting its 13th studio album Songs Of Innocence. The news comes a few weeks after Foo Fighters did a week on Late Show With David Letterman to promote the band’s new album and HBO series.